Fluorpolymer Property Enhancement via Incorporation of Fluorinated Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes (FluoroPOSS)
Abstract
Fluorinated Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes (FluoroPOSS) are the newest class of POSS compounds. These compounds have the highest molecular weights and highest densities of any POSS compounds yet produced. They also have remarkable surface properties, which have been observed in water contact angle measurements. A number of FluoroPOSS compounds have been produced from their respective trifunctional monomers. These FluoroPOSS compounds have been blended into several fluoropolymers, including fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP), poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene) (PCTFE), and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF). The POSS blendables appear to be well dispersed in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) spectra. These POSS fluoropolymers may be useful as low friction surfaces or hydrophobic coatings. Contact angle measurements of the POSS fluoropolymers show an improvement in water contact angles over the unfilled materials. The low surface energy POSS compounds also appear to act as a processing aid during fluoropolymer processing, significantly reducing both the torque and load measurements in the extruder. Thermal and mechanical properties of the blended fluoropolymers do not differ significantly from those of the unfilled polymers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 12, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA425526
Entities
People
- Brent D. Viers
- Darrell Marchant
- Joseph M Mabry
- Patrick N. Ruth
- Scott Barker